Grecians make light work of Bluebirds
Report by Richard Dorman
The Grecians ended pre-season in forceful fashion with a 7-1 victory away at Chippenham Town.
Goals by Jake Gosling, Matt Jay (twice), Tom Nichols, Jimmy Keohane, Ollie Watkins and Jordan Tillson made light work of the Bluebirds – despite City only leading 1-0 into the final period.
The hosts had in fact themselves levelled through Isaac Reid, before the Grecians opened the floodgates.
City took a young side to Hardenhuish Park for the final pre-season fixture at Chippenham Town. Jacob Wannell took on the captain’s duties, whilst under-18 player Connor Riley-Lowe took the right-back berth.
Former Exeter City striker Lee Phillips, on the books with the Bluebirds, wasn’t on the teamsheet for the fixture.
The referees decided to split the fixture into three 30-minute thirds, rather than traditional halves.
At the end of the first period a Pym clearance smashed against Knighton who tried to keep the ball alive, but the Grecians breathed a sigh of relief as the ball travelled just beyond the byline and behind.
The deadlock finally came, midway through the game. When Gosling took control of the ball 25 yards from goal, he used the movement of his teammates to open a shooting angle. He needed no invitation to drill the ball beyond the reach of John and into the bottom corner.
The second period saw Exeter City leading the Bluebirds 1-0, but it was not until the final period when the goals began to fly in. The hosts actually drew level to begin with when Isaac Reid played a neat one-two to get clear on goal and his shot beat the reach of Pym.
But the Grecians were ahead again through Jay soon after as Tom Nichols’ pull-back was dummied by Jagger Cane, and Jay took one touch before popping the ball into the corner.
Nichols added City’s third when he was released by Jay after some neat build-up play by Ollie Watkins.
Matt Jay added his second and City’s fourth when laid in by Chamberlain. The youngster took a touch a drilled a powerful effort from the edge of the area, which John couldn’t keep out.
Within a minute, Keohane added the fifth as a ball through the rattled Chippenham defence allowed him to give the goalie the eyes and slot in.
Ollie Watkins added a sixth after some smart link-up play with fellow under-18 striker Jay, before Jordan Tillson pounced to scramble home Exeter’s seventh and final goal.
Full-time: Chippenham Town 1 Exeter City 7
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